Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Longitudinal Spatial Patterns of Bacterial Production and Respiration in a Large River–Estuary: Implications for Ecosystem Carbon Consumption

  • Published:
Ecosystems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Rivers and estuaries transport organic carbon (C) from terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems to the marine environment. During this transit, bacteria actively utilize and transform organic C, but few studies have measured detailed spatial variation in rates of bacterial respiration (BR) and production (BP). We measured BP at 39 stations and BR at 12 stations at monthly intervals along a 200-km reach of the tidal Hudson River. We observed strong repeatable spatial patterns for both BP and BR, with rates declining in the downstream direction. Bacterial Production had much greater dynamic range of spatial variation than BR. We used the detailed seasonal and spatial data on BP and BR to measure the total C demand of bacteria at several scales. We calculated volumetric and areal rates for 12 sections of the Hudson, as well as the total C utilization. Volumetric BR averaged 20 g-C-m–3 y–1, but it was highest in the most upstream section at 30 g C m–3 y–1. Areal rates averaged over the entire river were 174 g C m–2 y–1, but they were 318 g C m–2 y–1 in the deepest section of the river, indicating the importance of morphometric variation. Total bacterial C demand increased downriver with increasing total volume. Overall, bacteria in the freshwater section of the river consumed approximately 18–25.5 × 109 g C y–1, about 20% of the total organic C load.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • JA Aitkenhead WH McDowell (2000) ArticleTitleSoil C:N as a predictor of annual riverine DOC flux at local and global scales Global Biogeochem Cycles 14 127–38 Occurrence Handle10.1029/1999GB900083 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXhvVGnu7Y%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PB Bayley (1995) ArticleTitleUnderstanding large river–floodplain ecosystems BioScience 45 153–58

    Google Scholar 

  • R Benner S Opsahl G Chin-Leo JE Richey BR Forsberg (1995) ArticleTitleBacterial carbom metabolism in the Amazon River system Limnol Oceanogr 40 1262–70

    Google Scholar 

  • L Boulos M Prévost B Barbeau J Coallier R Desjardins (1999) ArticleTitleLIVE/DEAD® BacLight™ : application of a new rapid staining method for direct enumeration of viable and total bacteria in drinking water J Microbiol Methods 37 77–86 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0167-7012(99)00048-2 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MzitFeruw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10395466

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • TC Bouvier PA Giorgio Particledel (2002) ArticleTitleCompositional changes in free-living bacterial communities along a salinity gradient in two temperate estuaries Limnol Oceanogr 47 453–70 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XjtFShurk%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NF Caraco JJ Cole (1999) ArticleTitleHuman impact on nitrate export: an analysis using major world rivers Ambio 28 167–70

    Google Scholar 

  • NF Caraco JJ Cole (2002) ArticleTitleContrasting impacts of a native and alien macrophytes on dissolved oxygen in a large river Ecol Appl 12 1496–509

    Google Scholar 

  • RJ Chròst (1990) ArticleTitleApplication of the isotope dilution principle to the determination of substrate incorporation by aquatic bacteria Arch Hydrobiol Beih Eregebn Limnol 34 111–17

    Google Scholar 

  • ACP Cimbleris J Kalff (1998) ArticleTitlePlanktonic bacterial respiration as a function of C:N:P ratios across temperate lakes Hydrobiologia 384 89–100 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1003496815969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TA Clair TL Pollock JM Erhman (1994) ArticleTitleExports of carbon and nitrogen from river basins in Canada’s Atlantic provinces Global Biogeochem Cycles 8 441–59 Occurrence Handle10.1029/94GB02311 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXisFWit7k%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JJ Cole NF Caraco (2001) ArticleTitleCarbon in catchments: connection terrestrial carbon losses with aquatic metabolism Mar Freshwater Res 52 101–10 Occurrence Handle10.1071/MF00084 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXht1SjtLo%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JJ Cole S Findlay ML Pace (1988) ArticleTitleBacterial production in fresh and saltwater ecosystems: a cross-system overview Mar Ecol Progr Seri 43 1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • JJ Cole NF Caraco BL Peierls (1992) ArticleTitleCan phytoplankton maintain a positive carbon balance in a turbid, freshwater, tidal estuary? Limnol Oceanogr 37 1608–17 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXlsVKjsL0%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JB Cotner BA Biddanda (2002) ArticleTitleSmall players, large role: microbial influence on biogeochemical processes in pelagic ecostystems Ecosystems 5 105–21 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s10021-001-0059-3 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XjtlCnur4%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PA Giorgio Particledel G Scarborough (1995) ArticleTitleIncrease in the proportion of metabolically active bacteria along gradients of enrichment in freshwater and marine plankton: implications for estimates of bacterial growth and production rates J Plankton Res 17 1905–24

    Google Scholar 

  • PA Giorgio Particledel JJ Cole (1998) ArticleTitleBacterial growth efficiency in natural aquatic systems Ann Rev Ecol Syst 29 503–41 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.29.1.503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PA Giorgio Particledel JJ Cole (2000) Bacterial energetics and growth efficiency D Kirchman (Eds) Microbial ecology of the oceans Wiley-Liss New York 289–325

    Google Scholar 

  • PA Giorgio Particledel CM Duarte (2002) ArticleTitleRespiration in the open ocean Nature 420 379–84 Occurrence Handle10.1038/nature01165 Occurrence Handle12459775

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • PA Giorgio Particledel DF Bird YT, Planas D Prairie (1996) ArticleTitleFlow cyclometric determination of bacterial abundance in lake plankton with the green nucleic acid stain SYTO 13 Limnol Oceanogr 41 783–89

    Google Scholar 

  • PA Giorgio Particledel JJ Cole A Cimbleris (1997) ArticleTitleRespiration rates in bacteria exceed phytoplankton production in unproductive aquatic systems Nature 385 148–51 Occurrence Handle10.1038/385148a0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WS Duval PJ Brockington MS Melville Particlevon GH Green (1974) ArticleTitleSpectrophotometric determination of dissolved oxygen concentration in water J Fish Res Bd Can 31 1529–30 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE2MXjsVyqtg%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • B Eckhart TR Moore (1990) ArticleTitleControls on dissolved organic concentration in streams, southern Quebec Can J Fish Aquat Sci 47 1527–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Findlay S. Bacterial abundance, growth, and metabolism in the tidal freshwater Hudson River. In: Levinton J, Waldman, editors. The Hudson River estuary. New York: Cambridge University Press. Forthcoming

  • S Findlay ML Pace D Lints JJ Cole NF Caraco B Peierls (1991) ArticleTitleWeak coupling of bacterial and algal production in a heterotrophic ecosystem: the Hudson River estuary Limnol Oceanogr 36 268–78

    Google Scholar 

  • S Giovannoni M. Rappé (2000) Evolution, diversity and molecular ecology of marine prokaryotes DL Kirchman (Eds) Microbial ecology of the oceans Wiley-Liss New York 47–84

    Google Scholar 

  • O Holm-Hansom B Riemann (1978) ArticleTitleChlorophyll a determination: improvement in methodology Oikos 30 439–47

    Google Scholar 

  • CS Hopkinson AE Giblin RH Garrit J Tucker Hullar MAJ Hullar (1998) ArticleTitleInfluence of benthos on growth of planktonic estuarine bacteria Aqua Microb Ecol 16 109–18

    Google Scholar 

  • RW Howarth R Schneider D Swaney (1996) ArticleTitleMetabolism and organic carbon fluxes in the tidal freshwater Hudson river Estuaries 19 848–65 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXhslWhtL8%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • RA Jahnke DB Craven (1995) ArticleTitleQuantifying the role of heterotrophic bacteria in the carbon cycle: a need for respiration rate measurements Limnol Oceanogr 40 436–41

    Google Scholar 

  • D Kirchman E K’Nees R Hodson (1985) ArticleTitleLeucine incorporation and its potential as a measure of protein synthesis by bacteria in natural aquatic systems Appl Environ Microbiol 49 599–607

    Google Scholar 

  • GG Lampman NF Caraco JJ Cole (1999) ArticleTitleSpatial and temporal patterns of nutrient concentration and export in the tidal Hudson River Estuaries 22 285–96 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXmsVOmtrk%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Maranger PA Giorgio Particledel DF Bird (2002) ArticleTitleAccumulation of viruses and damaged bacteria in lake water exposed to solar radiation Aquat Microb Ecol 28 213–27

    Google Scholar 

  • MA Moran RG Zepp (1997) ArticleTitleRole of photoreactions in the formation of biologically labile compounds from dissovled organic matter Limnol Oceanogr 42 1307–16 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXhtlyjtrw%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MA Moran WM Sheldon SuffixJr JE Sheldon (1999) ArticleTitleBiodegradation of riverine dissolved organic carbon in five estuaries in southeastern United States Estuaries 22 55–64 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXjtFynsrs%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DJW Moriarty (1986) ArticleTitleMeasurement of bacterial growth rates in aquatic systems from rates of nucleic acid synthesis Adv Microb Ecol 9 245–92 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL28XkslGnsbs%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips PJ, Hanchar DW. 1996. Water-quality assessment of the Hudson River Basin in New York and adjacent states. United States, Geological Survey, Denver, Open Report No. 96-4065. 76 p

  • NN Rabalais (2002) ArticleTitleNitrogen in aquatic systems Ambio 31 102–12 Occurrence Handle12077998

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • PA Raymond JE Bauer (2000) ArticleTitleBacterial consumption of DOC during transport through a temperate estuary Aquat Microb Ecol 22 1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • PA Raymond JE Bauer (2001) ArticleTitleRiverine export of aged terrestrial organic matter to the north Atlantic Ocean Nature 409 497–500 Occurrence Handle10.1038/35054034 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXpslKlsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11206542

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • PA Raymond NF Caraco JJ Cole (1997) ArticleTitleCarbon dioxide concentration and atmospheric flux in the Hudson River Estuaries 20 381–90 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXksVKhs7g%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • PA Raymond JE Bauer JJ Cole (2000) ArticleTitleAtmospheric CO2 evasion, dissolved inorganic carbon production, and net heterotrophy in the York River estuary Limnol Oceanogr 45 1707–17 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXhvFOi

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • F Roland JJ Cole (1999) ArticleTitleRegulation of bacterial growth efficiency in a large turbid estuary Aquat Microb Ecol 20 31–8

    Google Scholar 

  • F Roland NF Caraco JJ Cole PA Giorgio Particledel (1999) ArticleTitleRapid and precise determination of dissolved oxygen by spectrophotometry : evaluation of interference from color and turbidity Limnol Oceanogr 44 1148–54 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXktFOhsrw%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WH Schlesinger (1997) Biogeochemistry: an analysis of global change EditionNumber2 Academic Press San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • P Servais J Gamier (1993) ArticleTitleContribution of hetertrophic bacterial production to the carbon budget of the River Seine (France) Microb Ecol 25 19–33 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00182127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M Simon F Azam (1989) ArticleTitleProtein content and protein synthesis rates of planktonic marine bacteria Mar Ecol Progr Ser 51 201–13 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL1MXhvV2jsL8%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DC Smith F Azam (1992) ArticleTitleA simple, economical method for measuring bacterial protein synthesis rates in seawater using 3H-leucin Mar Microb Food Webs 6 107–14

    Google Scholar 

  • GT Taylor J Way MI Scranton (2003) ArticleTitlePlanktonic carbon cycling and transport in surface waters of the highly urbanized Hudson River estuary Limnol Oceanogr 48 1779–95 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXotFCru7w%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CJ Vörösmarty KP Sharma BM Fekete AH Copeland J Marble JA Lough (1997) ArticleTitleThe storage and aging of continental run-off in large reservoirs of the world Ambio 26 210–19

    Google Scholar 

  • RG Wetzel (1992) ArticleTitleGradient-dominated ecosystems: sources and regulatory functions of dissolved organic matter in freshwater ecosystems Hydrobiologia 229 181–98 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK38Xit1Sqsbk%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • RG Wetzel GE Likens (2000) Limnological analyses EditionNumber3 Springer-Verlag New York 429–429

    Google Scholar 

  • PA White J Kalff JB Rasmussen JM Gasol (1991) ArticleTitleThe effect of temperature and algal biomass on bacterial production and specific growth rate in freshwater and marine habitats Microb Ecol 21 158–87

    Google Scholar 

  • SC Williams Y Hong DCA Danavall MH Howard-Jones D Gibson ME Frischer PG Verity (1998) ArticleTitleDistinguishing between living and nonliving bacteria: evaluation of the vital stain propidium iodide and its combined use with molecular probes in aquatic samples J Microb Methods 32 225–36 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0167-7012(98)00014-1 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXjtVKruro%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

R.J.M. was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). This work was funded by grants from the Hudson River Foundation and the US National Science Foundation. The paper is a contribution to the Institute of Ecosystem Studies. We thank D. Fisher, G. Lampman, H. Malcom, and A. Nixon for their excellent technical and field assistance; H. S. Canut for guidance; and C. Duarte and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Roxane J. Maranger

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Montreal, CP 6128, Suc. Center-ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada

  2. Paul A. del Giorgio

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Quebec at Montreal, CP 8888, Suc. Center-ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 65 Sharon Turnpike, AB, Millbrook, New York, 12545, USA

    Roxane J. Maranger, Michael L. Pace, Nina F. Caraco & Jonathan J. Cole

  2. Horn Point Laboratory, Cambridge, Maryland, 21613, USA

    Paul A. del Giorgio

Authors
  1. Roxane J. Maranger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael L. Pace
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Paul A. del Giorgio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nina F. Caraco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jonathan J. Cole
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roxane J. Maranger.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Maranger, R.J., Pace, M.L., del Giorgio, P.A. et al. Longitudinal Spatial Patterns of Bacterial Production and Respiration in a Large River–Estuary: Implications for Ecosystem Carbon Consumption. Ecosystems 8, 318–330 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-003-0071-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-003-0071-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation